After evading capture for more than 25 years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said a man wanted for the kidnapping and murder of a 5-year-old Philadelphia girl was caught in Honduras.

Alexis Flores, accused of strangling Iriana DeJesus in 2000, was arrested by the Transnational Anti-Gang Task Force, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post.

“After more than 25 years on the run, this arrest proves time and distance do not shield violent offenders from justice,” Patel wrote. “Thanks to our FBI teams and international partners, a fugitive accused of a horrific crime against a child is in custody and on a path back to the U.S.”

DeJesus was reported missing on July 29, 2000. Her body was discovered several days later on Aug. 3 in an apartment building where the FBI believes Flores had been living.

Flores was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list in 2007 after a DNA sample from an Arizona convict matched evidence found at the Philadelphia crime scene. That convict was identified as Flores, who the FBI said was imprisoned in Arizona and deported to Honduras after his release in 2005.

DeJesus was last seen with a “Hispanic male who allegedly told people he was from Honduras and was seeking work and a place to stay,” the FBI reported in 2007. The agency said Flores allegedly “disappeared” from the Philadelphia area at the same time DeJesus was reported missing.

Liza DeJesus, Iriana’s mother, said she received a call from some of the investigators Wednesday after Flores was arrested. She said she finally feels at peace, knowing that the search for the man agents say viciously murdered her daughter is over. 

“Never lose hope on any other cases that are out here that are unsolved. I believe that if you put it in God’s hands, it’s not in our time, it’s in God’s time, and you will get your justice,” she said Thursday.

She said she’s forgiven Flores and she’s grateful for the detectives who never gave up on this case.

Iyanna Vazquez, Iriana’s sister, said her whole life “shattered” when she lost her little sister. 

“I still remember everything about her, her scent, her smell, the color of her bike that she rode, the days we went trick-or-treating and we wore the same Halloween costume,” Vazquez said. “That was my partner, you know, my best friend. And once she was taken from me, then it was just me. And it was hard to have to live with that and learn to not have a sibling anymore.”

CBS News Philadelphia has reached out to the FBI for more information on Flores’ arrest.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.

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